Robert Downey, Jr. Says That He’s Open To Returning To ‘Iron Man 4’ As Fans Gear Up For ‘Civil War’

Iron Man 4 may actually happen after all and it just may star Robert Downey, Jr. IGN reports that the actor said that he was open to returning to the iconic role in a standalone movie, during an interview on ABC’s Nightline.

“I feel like I could do one more,” the actor said as they showed footage from the set of Captain America: Civil War.

But don’t get too excited just yet, Iron Man fans. This is the latest in a series of flip-flops Downey, Jr. has made on the possibility of an Iron Man 4 movie.

Many fans had all but given up on the possibility of there ever being an Iron Man 4, as Downey, Jr. kept making statements to the press indicating that there was no chance that he’d be reprising the role in a standalone movie

USA Today reported back in March that Robert Downey, Jr. called Civil War his “little” Iron Man 4.

“In a way it’s Cap 3 but for me it’s like my little Iron Man 4 and then it’s back to the thing we all recognize,” Downey, Jr. said. “Everything pulls over to the side of the road when the thunder of an Avengers thing comes through because that’s how it is until it changes. If it changes.”

Also, back in September 2014, Robert Downey, Jr. also said that there were no plans to make a fourth movie in the Iron Man franchise.

“There isn’t one in the pipe,” Downey, Jr. said in an interview with Variety magazine. “No, there’s no plan for a fourth Iron Man.”

Downey, Jr. was even asked whether he would allow another actor play Iron Man, a question that made the actor laugh.

“I like that the idea is that it would be up to me, like I’m casting director for Marvel,” he said.

So, can fans expect an Iron Man 4 starring Robert Downey, Jr.? We can’t be certain at this point.

But if we do see another sequel in the Iron Man franchise, Iron Man director John Favreau told IGN that he can’t imagine anyone other than Downey, Jr. being Iron Man.

“I can’t imagine how they could but that doesn’t mean that they can’t. I just can’t wrap my head around that one,” Favreau said. “To me he’s the one element that has unified all of it, and I think kept a consistent tone, and the integrity of his acting ability and his talent really works wonderfully synergistically with the Marvel universe. I think that his personality is something which helps define it. That being said, nothing would surprise me, but for me it would be a hard pill to swallow and big shoes to fill.”

According to an article in Gizmodo, Robert Downey, Jr., unlike the other actors who play MCU heroes, negotiates his contracts on a per film basis. So he has not signed a multi-film contract that guarantees his presence in MCU films.

“Hinting there could be more on the way gets the fans excited, and adds a nice bit of leverage for deal-making,” James Whitbrook writes for Gizmodo.

Luckily, fans won’t have to wait until they finally green-light Iron Man 4 to see Robert Downey, Jr. play Tony Stark on screen. Captain America: Civil War premieres on May 6.